The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-05-21
TRIAL FOR BLAspuEMY,


peculiar hnd Unique Legal Proceedings In
Court In Morristown, N. j.
NEw York, May 2O.-The trial OF Chas.
B. Reynolds for blasphemy was begun In
the Court Of Oyer and Tsrminer at Nor.
riutown, N. j., to-day. The case has been
the talk OF the neighborhood for con.
siderable time, and the fact that Colonel
Robert g. Ingersoll was to conduct the
defense gave additional inte.es. TO It. So
the little courtroom was crowded, several
ministers, OF various sdenominationB, watch.
ing the proceedings with close interest,
The tall, portly figure OF Colonel Ingersoll
was center OF attraction. Close by him
eat his client, man with thoughtful and
even fine cast Of features, who, dressed In
clerical.looking raiment Of black, and
wearing white tie, might have been
taken by tho casual observer fora preacher
Of the Gospel. N
Charles 3. Reynolds isSabout fifty.,our
years Of age, and was formerly an ordain-
ed minister in the Church OF the Seventh
Day Adventists, whose headquarters are
at Battle Greek, Mich. He was a promi.
nent member OF the New York Confer.
ence OF this body. The broadening OF
his views and his ultimate espouual of
secularist beliefs, caused him to sever his
connection with the church. He immedi.
ately began to preach his new views, buy.
INK big tent aud starting out on an itin-
Grant lecturipg tour. Last July he landed
at Booneton, intending to make a three
months stay IN that neighborhood. and
speak under the auspices OF the Liberal
League. His first lecture was leveled at
the Protestants, and the same night, with
charming impRrtiality, he had fling at
the Roman Catholics, distributing copies
Of D. NJ. Bennett's old paper, The Truth
Seeker, containing caricatures which we're
far from aattering to that sect.
Reynolds efforts in Booneton resulted
in small riot, in which his tent was
bis congregation. Hia attempt to procure
tho arrest Of the minister snd five church
elders, whom he blamed for the occur.
renee, resulted in his own arrest on a
charge Of blasphemy. The prosecutor,
however, concluded that there was no
case against him. In October, Reynolds
published pamphlet on "Blasphemy and
the Bible" embellished by double.page
cartoon entitled, "CsstinS Pearls Before
Swine, O. B. Reynolds. in New jersey"
This representa- the lecturer distributing
these jewels to o number Of funRppreciative
hogs, some Of which are branded with o
capital N, others with cross. In the
background Is tent; to the lecturers
right the keeper OF the NJ lot stands beside
q sty marked IN. E. Hogpen," with a
bucket labeled methodist Slop." To his
left, beside the pig ETY. OF the "Holy Vir-
sia," is g msa vi'a N:hrcEct Of "Oatholic
swill." A aisG? i. poilsI 10 Booneton."
Morrietown and vicinity resulted in his
again being indicted under the old New
Jersey statute against biaaphemy, and
from October till his trial today he Was
hold in $500 bail.
Throughout the proceedings to-day he
was thecoolest man present. 1t took o
good deal Of time to get jury. Colonel
lngersoll fully avsiled himself Of the chal-
lenges allowed him. ANY one who had
the least little bit OF an opinion or preju-
dice about him had not much chance to
servo. Orosd and acct were inquired into,
and when Colonel 1ngersoll found man
who had but recently joined church, he
promptly jumped on him. A jury was
finally selected. When they lad been
sworn dilspidsted, elderly individual,
overcome by his emotions and potations,
pushed his spectacles on to his brow,
leaned up against pillar and "yellod"
thres cheers for Bob Ipgereoll. He was
promptly committed for contempt OF
Court, and Was removed, smiling sweetly
and contentediy.
Prosecuting Attorney Willard Cutler
then proceeded with the testimony for the
State. The principal evidence was the
pamphlet itself. The large number Of wit.
nesqeD called did notgive any more weighty
testimony than that they had asen de.
fendant distributing it. They were hur-
ried on and off the stand, and but little
time vss spent either in examination or
croas-examination. Colonel IngerBoll did
not call any witnesses for the defense, but
spoke for two hours arguing in behalf Of
liberty Of thought and speech, and taking
the g.oynd that the statute under which
his client wss indicted was not consti,u.
tional. The case was adjourned shortly
sitter 4 o'clock, and will be resumed to.
morrow morning. Colonel 1Dgersoll thlnEs
he will get his man through. II be does
not he will appeal the case.
1..r. SD. - nIG RI0p --s.rar -